Jerusalem Getting Back to Normal

This summer was not normal.

Rockets were falling and tourism was way down

But those tourists who did come had a great time.

The Tourism Ministry recorded 218,000 visitor entries in Israel in July 2014.

Groups from southern Israel were brought to Jerusalem for fun days.

President Reuven Rivlin and his wife hosted more children this week.

Slowly we are returning to “normal.”

The last two weeks in August there is no regular child day care,

which makes some workplaces look like day care centers.

 Grandparents, cousins,

 or any family member or friend can be called to help out.

 A popular summer activity was the view from Big Bambu at the Israel Museum.

image Big Bambu

Some ‘seniors’ finding out they had to go up with their young children,

were not so thrilled about having to make the climb.

image children play ground

The new play area at the Israel Museum was much easier to experience.

 The Bloomfield Science Museum, an  old favorite, is always great for a day outing.

image science museum water

The water activities on a hot day are always a winner.

image sand play area

The new sand area is usually a busy place,

but not this early morning in July,

image children playing

though learning activities led by staff were well under way.

image hand meat grinder

I wonder how many of the children ever saw a meat grinder like this,

or would have any idea what it is?

It was seen on my way to a new building for a special exhibition:

The Machine Within: Bio-mechanics,

image science museum

the machine inside is built to survive.

image science museum

Using small screens

image science museum

and large ones,

image child and grandmother in museum

and animals to attract attention and teach.

image Jerusalem science museum

This shows the outside of a pouncing animal,

but walk around it,

image Jerusalem science museum

and the exhibit shows how it works inside.

image child in science museum

One of my favorite scenes was this boy,

image child at science museum

who figured out how to interact

image child in science meusm

with all the right moves.

image Arab girl Jerusalem,

During the month of July with all the troubles and tensions you heard about,

at places like the Science Museum, where this Muslim girl is on staff,

image Muslim men Jerusalem

and in the Israel Museum where Muslim men worked and rested on Ramadan,

life went on as “normal.”

That was the real Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Will the cease fire and quiet hold?

We will all have to see what happens next.

0 thoughts on “Jerusalem Getting Back to Normal

    • August 13, 2014 at 11:21 pm
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      oh well that was quick.. rockets in south before end of deadline for ceasefire. Gaza shooting rockets again.

      Reply
  • August 13, 2014 at 5:31 pm
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    Mazaltov to all may it hold until after your simcha at least.

    Reply
  • August 13, 2014 at 11:00 pm
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    thanks again Sharon for sharing with me. Praying for peace and safety for all.

    Reply
  • August 14, 2014 at 12:40 am
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    Bamboo exhibit was great. Yes, children needed to be accompanied. I should have sent Nesya along with these “seniors” you mentioned because she wasn’t wearing close-toed shoes when we went so she couldn’t go up!! Mazal Tov on the wedding and thanks for bringing guests to bring up the tourist numbers. Bullet Factory in Rechovot was empty today. They told me they had 6300 cancellations this summer.

    Reply
    • August 14, 2014 at 12:55 am
      Permalink

      Right! Forgot shoes are an issue. Science Museum is not that big a tourist attraction, not as effected as mush because heavy with summer day camp groups. Israel Museum numbers felt way down, did not check though. Lots of cancellations this summer. Affects Arab population greatly, many in hospitality at hotels, etc, also tourist shops in Old City must be really hard hit by lack of customers. That day of closing during Ramadan, not such big deal no one around anyway.

      Reply

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